The West Virginia University Center for Excellence in Disabilities (WVU CED) Center Advisory Committee (CAC) is soliciting interest for new members to be appointed to the Committee. At this time, the Committee is looking for a mix of West Virginia citizens who have developmental and other disabilities as well as family members of people with such disabilities. The CAC strives to reflect the racial, ethnic and geographical diversity of the state.

The Center Advisory Committee is an organization that is established by the WVU CED under the federal Developmental Disabilities Assistance and Bill of Rights Act (P.L. 106-402). The Committee's work is to advise the WVU CED regarding civil rights, needs and services for people with disabilities that help assure their full inclusion in their communities. More specifically, the Committee advises the Center on the development and progress on its five (5) Year Plan and to inform the Center on the needs of people with disabilities and the services provided by the Center.

Developmental Disability **

A severe, chronic disability of an individual that-

is attributable to a mental or physical impairment, or combination of mental and physical impairments;

is manifested before the individual attains age 22;

is likely to continue indefinitely;

results in substantial functional limitations in 3 or more of the following areas of major life activity

Self-care,

Receptive and expressive language,

Learning,

Mobility,

Self-direction,

Capacity for independent living, and/or

Economic self-sufficiency; and

reflects the individual’s need for a combination and sequence of special, interdisciplinary, or generic services, individualized supports, or other forms of assistance that are of lifelong or extended duration and are individually planned and coordinated.

Young Children

An individual from birth to age 9, inclusive, who has a substantial developmental delay or specific congenital or acquired condition, may be considered to have a developmental disability without meeting 3 or more of the criteria described in (D) (a) through (g) if the individual, without services and supports, has a high probability of meeting those criteria later in life. - Definition taken from P.L. 106-402

** In and of themselves, sensory impairments (e.g. blindness, deafness), learning disabilities, emotional disorders, mental health impairments, and many physical disabilities are not considered to be developmental disabilities.